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Going-to-the-Sun Road Expected to Open to Big Bend Saturday, June 28

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Officials at Glacier National Park announce that the Going-to-the-Sun Road (Sun Road) is expected to open to Big Bend by noon on Saturday, June 28. Officials note that this access into the alpine section will only be available from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Outside these hours, west side vehicle travel will terminate at Avalanche.

When open to Big Bend, visitors will be able to travel almost 29 miles from the park’s west entrance along the Sun Road. On the east side, visitors can travel approximately 13 miles from St. Mary to Jackson Glacier Overlook. Overnight, vehicles can travel about 16 miles from West Glacier to Avalanche. Motorcyclists and bicyclists are cautioned that there is an almost three-mile stretch of unpaved road near the Loop with loose gravel.

Park road crews, assisted by park trail crews, will be working throughout the weekend to prepare for the safe opening of the entire road. Therefore, there will be no hiker/biker access beyond Big Bend for several days. On the east side, there will be a hiker/biker closure at "No Stump Point" which is just beyond Siyeh Bend.

"This has been a very challenging year for snow removal on the Sun Road, and I am pleased to say that we are nearing the final stages. Our crews are finishing with the Big Drift which was still over 70 feet deep this week. We are now busy installing guardrails, clearing snow from Logan Pass, and completing final preparations for the safe opening of the entire road," said Superintendent Chas Cartwright. "If the weather continues to hold, and if there are no unanticipated obstacles, we should be able to open the entire road for at least part of the holiday weekend."

The summer season is in full swing at Glacier National Park. Free ranger-led interpretive programs are ongoing daily throughout the park. Schedules for all events are available at visitor centers and ranger stations. A wide range of concession activities are also offered across the park.

Frontcountry camping is available at Apgar, Avalanche, Bowman Lake, Fish Creek, Kintla Lake, Many Glacier, Rising Sun, Sprague Creek, St. Mary and Two Medicine. Primitive camping, with no water provided, is also available at Cut Bank. Beginning July 1, primitive camping will also be available at Logging Creek and Quartz Creek campgrounds.

The entrance fee for a seven-day single vehicle entry to Glacier National Park is $25 and the fee is $12 for a single entrant (a biker, walker, or motorcyclist). An annual pass, valid for unlimited entry to Glacier for one year from the date of purchase, is $35.

For current road condition information, visit the park’s road status Web site http://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm.

Current road conditions are also available by calling 511, the Montana Department of Transportation Traveler Information System. If your phone does not support 511, call 1-800-226-7623. Both numbers are toll-free. Select "Glacier Park Tourist Information" from the main menu to hear Glacier’s road report.

For further information on Glacier National Park, visit the park’s Web site at www.nps.gov/glac or call 406-888-7800.